M.A. in Communication
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in communication or related field from an accredited institution or proof of equivalent education in a foreign institution.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Demonstration of academic achievement and potential as indicated by the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller's Analogy Test (MAT) and upper-level undergraduate and graduate coursework. Applicants are generally expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher in upper-level coursework.
- The GRE/MAT is not required for the following:
- Applicants who are UTEP students and are majoring or minoring in communication or a related discipline, or
- Applicants who have graduated from UTEP with a degree in communication or a related discipline within the last 12 years.
- The GRE/MAT is not required for the following:
- A letter of application to the graduate advisor addressing the rationale for advanced study in communication.
- Applicants from countries where English is not the first language are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Please consult the graduate school website for required scores.
Departmental Academic Standards
In addition to the graduate school requirements of maintaining a 3.0 GPA in all courses counting towards a degree, the department requires students to earn a grade of B or better in all core research methods courses (5300, 5310, 5311). Students receiving a C or lower will be required to retake the course. If, after repeating a core research methods course and a grade of B is not achieved, the student will be dismissed from the program.
Degree Requirements
Coursework
-
Thesis Option: 36 credit hours, plus successful completion of thesis.
-
Non-Thesis Option: 36 credit hours, plus successful completion of a project.
Research Core Courses
The core research courses are required for both the Thesis and Non-Thesis Options: 5300, 5310, and 5311.
Oral Examination
An oral examination by the graduate faculty is required for both the Thesis and Non-Thesis Options.
Degree Plan
Required Credits: 36
Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MA in Communication (All courses require a grade of C or better) | ||
| Required Courses: | 15 | |
| Intro to Graduate Studies B | ||
| Quantative Research Methods B | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods B | ||
| Thesis and Thesis | ||
| Select 21 hours from the list below | 21 | |
| Seminar-Contemporary Rhetoric | ||
| Sem./Organizational Comm. | ||
| Environmental Conflict | ||
| Seminar - Communication Theory | ||
| Pop Culture Theory and Comm | ||
| Popular Music & Communication | ||
| Directed Study | ||
Oral Examination: | ||
| Complete oral examination by the graduate faculty | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Non-Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MA in Communication (All courses require a grade of C or better) | ||
| Required Courses: | 12 | |
| Intro to Graduate Studies B | ||
| Quantative Research Methods B | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods B | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Select 24 hours from the list below | 24 | |
| Seminar-Contemporary Rhetoric | ||
| Sem./Organizational Comm. | ||
| Environmental Conflict | ||
| Seminar - Communication Theory | ||
| Pop Culture Theory and Comm | ||
| Feminist Theories in Comm | ||
| Environmental Communication | ||
| Comm & Positive Deviance | ||
| Comm & Healthy Communities | ||
| Popular Music & Communication | ||
Oral Examination: | ||
| Complete oral examination by the graduate faculty | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
B Course requires a grade of B or better.